This article attempts to develop a theoretical reflection on the aims and proposals in the area of the anthropological studies about the expressive forms, dealing with the concept of performance and drama in the social sciences. Taking this into consideration, this work intends to discuss the ideas of the most important authors in the theoretical debate concerning the concept of performance, drama and ritual in the anthropological field: Victor Turner, Clifford Geertz, Michael Taussig, Richard Schechner, John Dawsey - and others.
drama; performance; ritual; theatre